Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd and is a global reminder of our responsibility to care for the planet. Scoop Your Poop Week, founded in 2002 by the Association of Professional Animal Waste Specialists (APAWS), aims to educate pet parents on the importance of cleaning up after their animal companions. For Dallas pet parents, these observances present the perfect opportunity to adopt greener habits at home and on the go. Not sure where to start? Here are the top four ways you and your pets can celebrate Earth Day & Scoop The Poop Week in Dallas.
1. Always Pick Up and Properly Dispose of Pet Waste
This may seem like a small act, but consistently scooping your dog’s poop or cleaning your cat’s litter doesn’t just keep sidewalks and parks clean. It has bigger environmental benefits. Pet waste left on the ground can wash into Dallas’s waterways, polluting lakes and rivers with harmful bacteria and parasites. By picking up after your dog on walks, hikes, or at the park, and disposing of cat litter correctly at home, you protect local water quality, our environment, and our wildlife.
Make it a habit every day, and set a great example for fellow Dallasites, especially during Scoop The Poop Week. Organize a group clean-up, or take a few extra minutes to tidy up your block!
2. Use Landfill-Biodegradable Bags for Dog Poop and Cat Litter
Not all poop bags are created equal. Many claim to be “biodegradable” but still linger in landfills for decades because they require sunlight or oxygen to break down, conditions that aren’t present in most landfills. That’s why products like Greenline Pet Supply’s landfill-biodegradable bags make such a difference. Their bags are engineered with a proprietary earth-friendly additive that allows them to truly degrade in landfill conditions, breaking down years, rather than centuries, faster than conventional plastic bags.
Use them for dog walks and for cat litter disposal, knowing you’re making a smarter, planet-friendly choice every time you toss a bag in the trash bin. I like that GreenLine makes larger poop bags for litter scooping and XL poops… regular poop bags just don’t cut it sometimes, right?!
3. Shop Local for Pet Food and Supplies
Support Dallas’s businesses and reduce your pet’s “carbon pawprint” by buying food, treats, and toys from local pet supply shops. Shopping locally means less packaging and transportation, both of which reduce fossil fuel consumption and waste. Plus, you’re investing in your community and helping local entrepreneurs thrive.
Check out this blog for a few of our favorite Dallas-owned and operated pet supply stores!
4. Donate or Purchase Used Pet Equipment and Accessories
Before buying new pet beds, crates, or accessories, consider checking out Dallas-area thrift stores, online marketplaces, or Buy Nothing Groups. Donating gently used pet gear you no longer need keeps useful items out of the landfill. Meanwhile, picking up something secondhand helps you save money.
Many Dallas-based rescue groups welcome donations of gently used goods, helping pets in need and the planet at the same time.
Small Steps, Big Impact
Earth Day and Scoop Your Poop Week are just the start! These habits can make a difference all year long. By picking up after your pets, using truly landfill-biodegradable bags, supporting local pet supply stores, and choosing/donating secondhand pet gear, Dallas pet parents can lead the way in creating a cleaner, greener city for everyone—two- and four-legged alike.
The Best Care for Dallas Pets
Park Cities Pet Sitter proudly provides cat sitting, dog sitting, and dog walking services in Bluffview, Deep Ellum, Downtown, Highland Park, Knox Henderson, Lake Highlands, Lakewood, Lower Greenville, Medical District, North Dallas, Oak Lawn, Northwest Dallas, Northeast Dallas, Old East Dallas, Preston Hollow, Turtle Creek, University Park, Victory Park.
To learn more about our services, please visit our FAQs and contact us at 214-828-0192 and pets@pcpsi.com. You may also register via our client portal here. Existing clients, please submit reservations via this link.
To joining our team as a pet care provider, please click here.
If you are outside our greater Dallas service area, visit Pet Sitters International and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters to find a pet sitter near you.
Happy Earth Day and Scoop Your Poop Week, Dallas!
